Marilou Tolico-Villanueva: Philippines’ bet to Mrs. Universe

May 05, 2017

PAGEANT Watch recently met the country’s bets to two international tilts for this year.

Marilou Tolico-Villanueva, a 40-year-old businesswoman, will be the Philippines’ official delegate to the 2017 Mrs. Universe Pageant to be held from August 26-September 3, 2017 in Durban, South Africa.

Villanueva, a native of Carcar, Cebu and currently a resident of San Pedro, Laguna where she lives with her husband Anthony Villanueva and their four kids, has been appointed by Francisco “Gareth” Z. Blanco JR., the local licensee of the Mrs. Universe tilt.

“Marilou has the face and mind of a Mrs. Universe. I am confident she will do well in the pageant,” enthused Blanco.

Villanueva, who has done print and commercial modeling when she was still single, wants to spread the advocacy of Mrs. Universe Ltd. which is “Women of the World Against Violence and Human Trafficking.”

During our interview with her at Icon Hotel in Quezon City, she also expressed her desire to “promote our skills, like those in the BPO companies na nag-i-invest po talaga sa atin. And in terms of enterprising, we have lots of resources here.”

With a happy family and a successful business, what more can she wish for?

“I have everything in life. I have my family, I have my friends who are very supportive, real friends and I can feel their sincerity. And that’s the most important in life. I will really do my best (in the Mrs. Universe pageant). In every aspect of life, we all

have to do our best. You have to give it all.”

Meanwhile, the Mister & Miss Culture World Organization (MMCWI) that aims to promote cultural preservation in the global stage, held a press conference, also at ICON Hotel, and presented the Philippines representatioves to the upcoming beauty

pageant that will be held in Manila from May 17-26.

This is only the third edition of the international tilt and the reigning titleholders are the Philippines’ Bob Royo (Mister Culture World) and Myanmar’s Hnin Wutyee Win (Miss Culture World), who won in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia last year.

The four delegates who will vie for the tilt are: Al-Hakam Reggie Dimalanas who represent the Philippines and Al Mario Lara who will represent South Central Mindanao in the “Mister” division; and Rizza Paula Infante for the Philippines and Honey

Leth Ventura for Central Luzon in the “Miss” division.

“What makes our pageant unique is that more than our candidates’ physical attributes, we give importance to their personalities and personal advocacies,” said MMCWI president Saidili Abdilla Jr. during the press event.

MMCWI is headed by its chairman Abubakar Kalbit Jr., Abdilla and Royo who is also the chief licensing officer.

The grand finals of Mister & Miss Culture World 2017 will be held on May 26 in Metro Manila.

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